Escobar
by Andrea Di Stefano (2014)
Two Canadian brothers, Nick and Dylan, find themselves in Colombia to open a surf school in a seaside town. Nick will randomly meet Pablo Escobar’s niece, Maria, and a passionate relationship will ignite between them. Their lives will be turned upside down and changed forever.
“Where did he get all this money?”
“Cocaine. He’s one of the world’s largest producers. Most of the money goes to the poor.”
“So, he’s kind of a Robin Hood…”
“He is Robin Hood!”
(Nick Brady & Maria)
Lost Paradise
Warning: this is not a conventional love story, as a quick and superficial reading of the plot might suggest. This is a work that primarily highlights a powerful and profound difference in the perception of the same place.
On one side, we have two happy and naive Canadian brothers just arriving on the beaches of Medellín with a grand dream to fulfill. There is a wild and spectacular nature that welcomes them, filled with promises and hopes.
And then there’s that lost paradise referenced in the film’s original title. The end of a dream, the entrance into a nightmare with no return. The hidden and monstrous face of a corrupted and deeply ambiguous country. A universe ruled by violence and oppression.
All of this is perfectly represented by the character of Escobar, a rich and invincible criminal who holds the entirety of the territory in his grasp. Behind his apparent role as a simple exporter of a Colombian flagship product lies what is, in reality, a powerful puppet master manipulating an entire country at will.
Considerations
Andrea Di Stefano does not concern himself too much with the classic issues related to drug trafficking. He does not aim to portray a sort of biography of this famous criminal. Escobar is placed in the background; he is not the main character of the film, and, most importantly, no judgments are expressed regarding his actions.
What interests the director most is to showcase the contrast that emerges between Nick, a young man from a foreign country, and Escobar, who constantly balances his public image as a benefactor against his much darker and indefensible private reality.
It’s also noticeable how evil can sweep away everything in its path and be profoundly destructive. Because, as Escobar coldly cynically puts it, “There are laws in nature, and when they prevail, I have to accept them.”
Benicio Del Toro is simply perfect in the role of the famous drug trafficker. With his stage presence and physicality, he traverses the film without ever risking being excessive. This is something only the greats can do.
Josh Hutcherson, who plays Nick, also delivers well, bringing a range of very different emotions to the screen.
In conclusion, it is unfortunate to note that such a fine film directed by an Italian director took two years to reach us.
Available on Raiplay.
Absolutely a must-see.
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